The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1887-05-18

4
lated. "Upon what mysterious mission
have l been sent? The tale was true, then. I"
Again that cry-wild and shrill, but
melancholy in its tones.
1t seemed TO supplicate protection, and
Perry shuddered inwardly when he found
that the voice was womans. The storm
had set in. Sonorous peals OF thunder
quick, sharp flashes of lightning-a drench-
ing torrent of rain; such was Perry's well
come as he leaped on the strand, hardly to
be distinguished from the water in the in
tense darkness which followed. Perry APP
preached the light, and discovered ii to
proceed from a low, rudely constructed
hut, through the crevices OF which he could
discern what was passing within.
He looked, and the sight rooted him to
the giound with horror. In the center of
the apartment stood man some fifty years
of age, of large frame, stalwart and almost
| gigantic. His face was somber, and wore
settled expression of malice which
rendered it repulsive to look upon. Before
him, on her knees, with her hands raised
to him in supplication, was woman OF
slender figure, entirely clothed IN black.
The face was concealed by Il mask, but her
hands were white and small-unmistake-
able signs that she had moved in a sphere
| far different to that in which destiny or
compulsion had seemingly placed her. On
the rough plank table was portrait of
young man of exceeding beauty, and on
the floor lay-Perry looked again-great
heaven il could not be-a scourgel
Raymond uttered laugh-a laugh of
scorn. "Womanl" he exclaimed, your
penance is only begun. You implore me
to kill you, but my revenge is not yet
gratifed. 1t shall be your doom to live!
For fourteen years we have lived thus to-
gether, and of every week / set one night
apart for the observation of this ceremony.
Your sufferings are great, confess, but
what have they been compared with miner"
PITY me-spare mel" sobbed the mask.
"You refused me when once made this
same request; it is but just that should
take my turn. Come-the Portrait"
Tremblingly she took from the table the
miniature; her breast heaved, and tears
fell like rain upon the hand which held it.
Are you preparedI
slight culver of the frame and groan
were the only answer returned TO this sim
gular question. The man took cup from
the table, and also a phial, from which he
poured into the cup a few drops of some
thick, blood-red liquid. He then handed
the cup to the person whose whole frame
now quivered like an aspen.
Sod have mercy upon me-" she
groaned.
Raymond stamped his foot impstently.
"Come-the drink"
as there no release?"
"Nonep And he seized the scourge. The
cup was raised, was drained, was dashed
away with scream so wild and full of
anguish it seemed to have silenced the
very elements. There was n heavy fall,
and before Raymond could raise the sense
less body from the spot where 1t lay, the
door had burst open with crash, and, al
most ere he could turn, he was transfxed
by PeTy's sword, and lay weltering and
gasping by the side of his victim.
Infamous wretch!" shouted Perry, "thou
at least shalt sin no more!"
withhold your sword, said Raymond,
averting the blow which Perry was aiming.
81 would speak with you few words ere l
die. Who you are, and what chance led
you to this spot, which for fourteen years
has seen not single white face save my
own, l know not. Your resemblance to
that miniature-tell me, do you recognize
the face?"
Perry took the portrait from the table.
"My brother" he exclaimed in amazement.
How came this miniature here, and why
i see it ALL" he added, and he hid his
face for a moment in his hands.
Raymond made an effort to speak-his
blood was flowing freely, and it was evil
dent that he could not long survive his
wound.
"You remember your brothers reckless
ness-his passion for women-his needless
dissipation.
"Ahl yes-too we'll remember it-poor
Edward"
He was a villain" said Raymond, fierce
~. You recollect he had friend-a Cery
dear friend. whose fair fame he betrayed
while that friend was absent. Your brother
disappeared"
"You, then, can tell me his retreat" said
Perry, eagerly.
Would you like to know" asked Ray
mond, with a strange smile.
Heaven knows it would"
'Be satisfied! l slew him."
"Oh, monster! what doom should be
yours, to trihe with so sacred thing as
life. and trile with it thus, too"
"Well-he deserved it, NY sighted hon.
or demanded reparation, and / have en-
joyed it. Behold that phial, it contains
his blood"
wretch and this woman -"
Drinks it; you now know all. Leave
now this wretched hovel, and let me die"
"Not yet-not yet! Oh! God-this is too
horrible; 1 would not have believed it,"
And Perry, mutterng thus TO himself,
stopped down aud taking from the niser-
able creature the mask which concealed
her features, strove to restore her.
But il was in vain. The last effort had
severed the frail tenure on which her life
had depended-a few deep signs, slight
culver of the limbs, and she was dead.
The young officers attention was now at
tracted by groan from Raymond. He
turned and found that in his abstraction
Raymond had managed to get possession
of his sword, and had fastened the event
which could not have been much longer
delayed.
That night the lone hut was burned to
the ground--how or by whom is mystery.
Perry returned to the fort, and, although
he was sore pressed, he firmly persisted in
preserving the secret he had purchased at
so terrible a sacrifice.
From that time forward Perry was an
altered man. He eschewed dissipation,
went but little with his acquaintances,
and attended rigidly TO the duties of his
station.
At the bloody encounter which accom-
panied the taking of Ticondoroga, shortly
after, Perry fell where the fray was thick
est and this sad but eventful story was
found among his papers, in an old trunk,
a few weeks after his death.
A Ten-Figure Bank Account.